Overview
- The late-night deal moves the 2017 first-round defenseman with 271 NHL games into Carolina’s system, with an assignment to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.
- Välimäki recently returned from an ACL tear, cleared waivers after medical clearance, and posted three points in three AHL games with Tucson.
- He is signed through the 2025–26 season with a $2.0 million NHL cap hit, with a lower buried amount applying while in the AHL.
- With Jaccob Slavin listed week-to-week, reports indicate Välimäki could be a recall option as the Hurricanes navigate injuries on defense.
- Utah listed the return as future considerations, a move local reporting says likely brings negligible assets while freeing roughly $850,000 in cap space and over $1 million in cash and creating opportunity given the Mammoth’s defensive depth.